The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell Read Free Book Online Page A

on Renee’s shoulder. “Don’t.” He sighed, attempting a reasonable tone. “What will you accomplish besides earning yourself enemies?”
    She detangled his grip. “Bear witness and report them.”
    “On what evidence? Did you see what happened when the Crown tried it?”
    He meant the Viper attacks terrorizing Atham ever since Lysian’s arrest decrees. The Crown took decisive action, and criminals responded with violence, trying to cow the king into passivity. It wouldn’t work. There or here.
    “I need time,” Tanil protested. “No. Wait. Look here.” There was a rustling sound of a bag opening.
    The voice laughed. “Put that away. In lack of coin, Madam will again accept information. That much you can scrape up, can’t you? The Family must have another corn merchant somewhere. One week.” Twigs crackled under receding footsteps.
    If she hurried, she might catch up. Renee shoved passed Alec and headed toward the sound in the woods.
    “Gods,” he whispered under his breath, but came up beside her.
    They made it several paces when a child’s shriek stalled their retreat.
    “Filthy spy!” Tanil shouted.
    There was a splash. A yelp. Then growling. The noises sounded in rapid succession, freezing Renee in place. Taking a breath, she turned again and sprinted down the hill—
    And skidded to a halt in the middle of the beach, where a large white dog bared his teeth at Tanil. He backed away, his eyes glued on the salivating fangs. Meanwhile, in the water, Diam struggled to keep from drowning. Rock Lake had no waves, but its banks dropped abruptly close to the shore, creating deep, hidden pools. The boy’s choking made a sickening harmony to the dog’s low rumble.
    Teeth flashed in the sunlight. The dog crouched, ready to pounce on Tanil.
    “Khavi, down!” Alec shouted, stumbling onto the sand while Renee dove into the lake.
    Air caught in her chest, and her head rang from the cold as she lifted her head and took her bearings. On her right, Diam flailed, sucking in more water than air. She swam toward him. Boots dragged in the water and she reached the boy just when the lake closed over his head. “Diam! Take my hand!”
    The boy seized her like a python. And pulled her down.
    She screamed for him to let go but he held on, squeezing with all the strength his thin arms allowed. Drawing a breath, Renee dove under and twisted to pry off the boy’s hold. Ice water poured into her ears. Her leg cramped. Finally, and much too slowly, Diam’s grip failed under the pressure and she maneuvered them both to shore.
    “What . . . in . . . the Seven Hells?” She braced her hands on her knees, gasping between words while Diam coughed his way back to consciousness.
    “That mad animal attacked me!” Tanil pointed to Khavi, who snarled despite Alec’s grip on the collar. It was a good accusation, and one Tanil’s bleeding calf supported. The Academy frowned on pets and would not tolerate dangerous ones.
    “That’s not what happened.” Diam wiped his mouth and rose to his feet. “You grabbed me!”
    “Shut your trap.”
    “Shut yours,” said Renee.
    Tanil’s eyes snapped to her, then to Alec. He winked at the latter and stuck his hand inside a pocket. Something crinkled, like dry leaves breaking against each other. “Go back to the barracks,” he said, still looking at Alec. “I scratched myself on the rocks. No harm done.”
    Alec sniffed the air and paled. “Let’s go, Renee.” He reached for her shoulder.
    She jerked away. “What are you talking about?” she demanded, but he would not meet her gaze. “He torments a boy half his age and you want to walk away?”
    “Renee. Let it be,” Alec repeated.
    Tanil grinned.
    She cocked her fist.
    The grin froze on Tanil’s face. “You don’t wish to do that.” He reached into his coat and threw a small sack onto the sand. Veesi leaf, the lifeblood of the Family business, spilled from the open top. “If we return with bruises, Master Verin will